Kinney back for action

With Fire defender ready after quad injury, club should be at full strength against Union

August 02, 2013|By Jack McCarthy, Special to the Tribune

New England Revolution midfielder Donald Smith (left) and Chicago Fire player Steven Kinney battle for the ball in the first half at Toyota Park on March 9. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

There are bumps, bruises and a tweaked hamstring but for a change the Fire's official injury list is empty.

Defender Steven Kinney was back training with the team this week after being out for weeks with a quad injury, a welcome development as the Fire (7-9-4, 25 points) prepared for Saturday's MLS visit with the Philadelphia Union.

"It's good to see Steven," coach Frank Klopas said after practice Thursday. "We need another guy who can give us some depth in the back. (But) we have to be smart. We have to make sure we don't push him (too) hard."

The Fire finally received paperwork for designated player Juan Luis Anangono and placed him on the official roster Thursday. Delays in receipt of a visa and international transfer certificate had prevented activation and he also has been slowed this week with minor hamstring tightness.

The 24-year-old Ecuadoran had continued to train and appears likely to be a backup striker for the team's late-season playoff push. But Klopas isn't sure when he might make an appearance.

"He has been working very hard," Klopas said. "We'll see for this game, but the next game hopefully he'll (play)."

Fire goalie Sean Johnson has also returned after spending a month with a U.S. Men's National team that captured the CONCACAF Gold Cup championship last week. His next chance for a call up might come in mid-August when the U.S. travels to Sarajevo for a game with Bosnia-Herzegovina or World Cup qualifiers starting in September.

Johnson is likely to be back in goal after backup Paolo Tornaghi went 2-2-1 with a 1.80 goals against average in his absence.

The status of forward Sherjill MacDonald remains uncertain. He didn't make the trip to Houston last Saturday and team officials have indicated he could be loaned overseas. MacDonald was still with the team Thursday, working with reserves on the Toyota Park practice field.

"There's nothing to report on that end," Klopas said.

The Fire are host to D.C. United Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup tournament semifinal. A victory clinches a berth in the final at either Portland or Real Salt Lake in late September or early October.